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Welcome to Am I Infected

IMPORTANT UPDATE
Posted Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Welcome to the "Am I Infected?" POZ forum.

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Thank you for your understanding
and future support of the best online support service for people living with,
affected by and at risk for HIV.

Amazingly, after all your paranoia over no risk situations, you go and put yourself at actual risk. You should know the drill by now. You need to test at three months for a conclusive negative result. A negative at six weeks is unlikely to change, but must be confirmed at three months.

Just because he didn't cum inside you doesn't mean he didn't precum inside you. Precum is infectious. Dipping is dangerous. (dipping = short bouts of unprotected intercourse without ejaculation)

Do not expect to use this forum to go on and on about your physical symptoms - I won't hesitate to give you a time out if you do, window period or no window period. Symptoms or even the lack of symptoms will never tell you a thing about your hiv status and you know we don't discuss them here. If you feel unwell, see your doctor.

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

If you receive a negative result then you need to re-test at 13 weeks.

And I strongly urge you to get some professional counseling regarding your feelings about HIV and the impulsive behavior and excessive drinking which got you into a situation where you have put your life at risk. We can't help you with that here.

The average time to seroconversion is 22 days. All but the very smallest number of those who are going to seronvert will do so within 4-6 after a real risk. With a negative at 8 weeks in hand a negative at 13 weeks is pretty much a slam dunk, that ridiculous comment from the tester notwithstanding.

You ask should you worry that it may change. Given your track record here I can't help wondering what good it would do to tell you not to worry even though I fully expect you to continue to test negative. I mean, is there any chance you'd really listen?

Andy thanks so much for the quick response and yes I have listened .. Despite how it may seem I did indeed not want this situation again..

Right now I'm seeking help for my issues with the bottle... I'm also learning more about hiv and the transmission I don't know really know much to say but I made a mistake and I'm trying to learn from it.

The tester is an ass .... he has lead me to believe that people have tested at 2 months and test a week later positive...Sayin some peoples bodies wrk differently..

But thanks for clearling that up for me andy... I really appreciate all the help...

I'm definetly learning... I evenTold my boyfriend that I'm not willingTo have sex without protection...

A friend of mine caught it right around the time I had that original exposure . And every since then I've been kinda obsessed with testing and things.. Yet havin someone so close to me still hasn't helped me make a better decision with sex ..So I do think seeking help is a very wise choice

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

Andy and Ann this will be my last question.... as you know august 27th was the exposure ..

Well I tested on sept 30th and that was with a western blot that came back negative.. Well three days after that impatient of waiting 2 weeks I got a elisa test and that also was neg...

And I jsut had another neg test on october 28th.. 62days past exposure..

One of the testers called me today and told me that the western blot test should of been a conclusive test because its a full blood panel ... I thought that test was called a viral load or somethin..So I don't know what this tester is sayin.Or even if he knows what the hell he's talkin about...

Can u plz explain to me the difference??Is western blot a better test that u can get a conclusive answer with shorter time..

The western blot is a highly sensitive and specific test. For instance, if someone tests HIV+ with an ELISA, that is always checked with a western blot. If they test negative on the western blot, that result trumps the ELISA.